CRETE HOME
 The Greek Islands
 My house on Crete
 Mail me
 Naturist beaches
 Crete restaurants
 Crete real estate
 Crete car cental
 CRETE HOTELS
 Crete villas
 Crete winter rentals
 Map of Crete
 More maps of Crete
 Achladia
 Achlia Beach beach
 Afratabeach
 Afrati
 Agathia
 Agia Eirini beach
 Agia Fotia beach
 Agia Galinilovebeach
 Agia Irini
 Agia Kyriakichurch
 Agia Lake
 Agia Marinabeach
 Agia Paraskevichurch
 Agia Pelagiachurchsitebeach
 Agia Roumelisitebeach
 Agia Sophiachurch
 Agia Sophia 2 church
 Agia Triada
 Agia Triada church
 Agia Triada lovechurchsite
 Agia Varvara
 Agii Deka church
 Agioi Asomatoichurch
 Agios Antonios beach
 Agios Dimitrios
 Agios Georgios (c)
 Agios Georgios beach
 Agios Georgios (w)
 Agios Georgios (e)
 Agios Ioannis cavechurch
 Agios Ioannischurch
 Ag. Konstantinoswindmill
 Agios Matheios church
 Agios Nikolaossitechurchbeach
 Agios Nikolaos church
 Ag. Nikolaos Zaroschurch
 Agios Onoufrios lovebeach
 Agios Panteleimonchurch
 Agios Pavloslovebeach
 Agios Spyridon
 Agios Stephanos
 Agios Vasilioschurch
 Akoumialovechurch
 Alikamboschurch
 Aliki & Almiridabeachchurch
 Alikianos church
 Almiros Beachbeach
 Almyrida sitebeach
 Aloides
 Amiras
 Ammoudara (e)beach
 Ammoudara (w) beach
 Amnissos churchsitebeach
 Amoudari
 Analipsi (s) beach
 Analipsi (n) beach
 Anatolichurch
 Ancient Elefthernachurchsite
 Andravasti
 Anidri  lovechurch
 Anissaras beach
 Anogia
 Anopolis (south)
 Anopolis church
 Ano Vianoschurchtree
 Apesokari
 Apodoulousite
 Apoini
 Aptera site
 Aradenachurch
 Archaneschurchsite
 Aretiouchurch
 Argiroupoli churchsite
 Argoules
 Argyromouri
 Arkadichurch
 Arkalochorichurch
 Armeni site
 Armeni (Chania)
 Aroni
 Arvi beachbeach
 Asimi
 Asomatos
 Aspro
 Asprolithos beach
 Astratigos
 Astrikas
 Atherinolakos
 Avdouchurch
 Azokeramos church
 Bali beach
 Balos Beach beach
 Bampiolos
 Chamaitoulo
 Chandras
 Chanialovefortsite
 Charakasfortchurch
 Chargas
 Chersonissos beach
 Chiona beach beach
 Chondros
 Chorafakia
 Chora Sfakionlovebeach
 Choudetsi
 Chrysopigichurch
 Chrisoskalitissachurch
 Damasta
 Damnoni Beach beach
 Deliana church
 Deres
 Dermatos Beachbeach
 Diktamos Gorge
 Diktynnalovebeachbeach
 Dories
 Douliana
 Drakonachurch
 Drapanossite
 Drosia
 Dytikos Beachbeach
 Elafonissosbeach
 Eleftherna church
 Eloschurch
 Elounda lovewindmillsitebeach
 Epanochori
 Epano Episkopichurch
 Epano Sisi
 Episkopi
 Episkopi Beachbeach
 Etia churchsite
 Exo Lakonia
 Exo Mouliana
 Exo Potami windmill
 Falassarna sitebeach
 Farmakokefalo site
 Fata Morganabeach
 Ferma sitebeach
 Fodelelovetreechurch
 Fournessite
 Fourni
 Frangokastelolovefortbeach
 Freschurch
 Galatas
 Gavalochorisite
 Gazi
 Georgioupolibeach
 Geranibeach
 Gerani Cave beach
 Gergeri
 Geropotamosbeach
 Gialiskari Beach beach
 Gonies
 Gortynsite
 Goudouras beach
 Gournia site
 Gouvernetouchurchsite
 Gouves beach
 Grammenifort
 Gramvousafortbeach
 Grigoria
 Hamezi
 Heraklionfort
 Houmeriakoschurch
 Hrisopigi
 Ierapetra fortsitebeach
 Ilingas Beach lovebeach
 Imbros Gorge
 Istro beach
 Itanoslovesitebeach
 Izzedine fort
 Kalamafka beach
 Kalamaki (n) beach
 Kalamaki (s) beach
 Kalamibeach
 Kalami (south east)
 Kalamitsi
 Kalathas Beach beach
 Kalidonia
 Kali Limenesbeach
 Kalives beach
 Kalivianibeach
 Kalo Nerobeach
 Kaloni
 Kaloudiana
 Kambia
 Kampanos
 Kampos
 Kandanos
 Kapetaniana
 Kapsodassos
 Kardamiana
 Kares (south) fort
 Kares (north)
 Karidi
 Karidi 2
 Karydi church
 Karteros Beachbeach
 Karthiana
 Kasteli (east)church
 Kasteli (Her)
 Kastellosfort
 Kastri Beachlovechurchbeach
 Katalagari
 Kathiana
 Katholikolovechurch
 Katochori
 Kato Choriochurch
 Kato Episkopichurchfort
 Kato Favriana
 Kato Kastellianasite
 Kato Kria
 Kato Poulia
 Kato Saktouria
 Kato Vianoschurch
 Kato Zakros lovesitebeach
 Kavousi
 Kavros Beachbeach
 Kedrodasos Beachbeach
 Kefalas
 Kefalichurch
 Kelaria
 Kendri
 Kera Beachbeach
 Keramoti
 Keratokamposbeach
 Kirianachurch
 Kissamos fortsitebeach
 Klima
 Knossos site
 Koimesis Churchchurch
 Kokini Chanisitebeach
 Kokkino Chorio
 Kokkinos Pirgos beach
 Kolimbari churchbeach
 Kolokythachurchsitebeach
 Komitadeschurch
 Kommos   sitebeach
 Kontopoula church
 Korfalonasbeach
 Kotsifou Canyon
 Koufi Petrachurch
 Koufos church
 Kounavi church
 Kouremenos beach
 Kournas
 Kournas Lake beach
 Kourtaliotiko
 Koustogerako
 Koutelos Beach beach
 Koutsourasbeach
 Kremasta church
 Krevatas
 Kritsalovechurch
 Kufi
 Kydoniasite
 Lagoliofort
 Lakki
 Lakki Beach beach
 Lagkada 
 Lagkada-Lagada lovebeach
 Langada
 Lapithos
 Lasithi Plain windmill
 Lastros church
 Latosite
 Lefkochori
 Lendaschurchsitebeach
 Likotinara
 Limnes
 Lissossitebeach
 Listis Beachbeach<
 Lithineschurch
 Livadas
 Livadia Beachbeach
 Livadia Beach   beachchurch
 Livari Beach   beach
 Loukia
 Loulos
 Loutraki
 Loutro beach
 Lygaria Beachbeach
 Madaros
 Magarikari
 Maheri
 Makrigialos sitebeach
 Makrigiani
 Makrilia
 Malaxa
 Maleme beach
 Malia sitebeach
 Maralia
 Marathibeach
 Marathos
 Maridakilovebeach
 Maridatibeach
 Maronia
 Matalabeach
 Mavros Kolimbosbeach
 Mazi
 Melampbes
 Megala Chorafia
 Melidoni
 Menies Beachlovebeachbeach
 Mesa Lasithi
 Mesa Mouliana
 Meseleri church
 Mesklachurch
 Mesochori
 Miamou
 Micro Amoudi beach
 Milatoschurchbeach
 Milonas waterfall
 Mires
 Mirsini
 Mirtos beachchurch
 Mirtropoli site
 Mochlosbeachbeach
 Modi
 Moni
 Moni Kapsachurch
 Moni Preveli church
 Mournies
 Mouzourasfortchurch
 Neapoli
 Nea Roumata
 Nikithianos windmill
 Nipiditos
 Nipos
 Nomikiana
 Nopigia churchbeach
 Ombros Gialosbeach
 Orino
 Orthi Ammosbeach
 Pachia Ammosbeach
 Palailoni
 Palaiokastrofortbeach
 Palaiokastro (west)
 Palekastrobeach
 Paleochorafortbeach
 Palia Vrisi
 Panagia
 Panagia Kera church
 Panormosfortsitebeach
 Pantanasabeach
 Papagiannades church
 Paranimfi
 Paraspori Spring
 Patelari
 Patsianos
 Pazinos church
 Pefki
 Pemonia
 Perivolia
 Pervola
 Pervolitsachurch
 Petrassite
 Petresbeach
 Peza
 Phaestos Area;site
 Pilalimata
 Pirgoschurch
 Piskokefalo site
 Pitsidia
 Plakabeach
 Plaka (Chania)
 Plakalona
 Plakias beach
 Plataneschurch
 Platanichurch
 Platanias beach
 Platanos (west)
 Platanos (south)church
 Platanos
 Polyrriniachurchsite
 Pompia / Pombiachurch
 Potamida
 Praisossite
 Prases
 Preveli Beachbeach
 Prina church
 Prineschurch
 Prodomichurch
 Provarma
 Psari Foradabeach
 Psathogiannos
 Psychrochurch
 Ramni
 Rapanianabeach
 Ravdouchachurchbeach
 Rethimnon fortbeach
 Rizovigio Beach beach
 Rodakinobeach
 Rodoposchurchsite
 Rodovani
 Rokkalovesite
 Rotasi
 Rotonda church
 Rousapidia
 Saktouria
 Samaria Gorge
 Samonas
 Sarakina Gorge
 Schinokapsalachurch
 Seitan Limaniabeach
 Seles
 Selia
 Selinari church
 Sellia
 Sfaka
 Sfinari beach
 Sikia 
 Sikologos
 Sisarha
 Sisibeach
 Sisseschurch
 Sitiafortbeach
 Siva
 Skaleta beach
 Skaloti
 Sklavokampos site
 Skordilo
 Skouros beachbeach
 Skoutelonas
 Sokaras
 Souda
 Sougia beach
 Spilichurchsite
 Spiliachurch
 Spinalonga lovefort
 Stalos beach
 Stavrochorichurch
 Stavros Beach beach
 Stylos church
 Sweet Water Beachbeach
 Tersanas Beachbeach
 Tertsa beach
 Therisochurch
 Tholos beach
 Thomadiano
 Thripti
 Timpaki / Timbaki
 Toplouchurch
 Topolia Gorge
 Tourloti
 Triopetra beach
 Tripitos site
 Tris Ekklisieslovebeachchurch
 Tsichliano Gorge church
 Tsiskiana
 Tsivaras church
 Tsoutsouroslovebeach
 Tylissos site
 Tzermiado
 Tzitzifes
 Vagionia
 Vai Beach beach
 Vainia
 Vamos/Karydichurch
 Varipetro church
 Varsamonero church
 Vasiliki site
 Vasilopoulo
 Vathichurch
 Vathiakochurch
 Vathianos Kambosbeach
 Vathypetrosite
 Vatos beach
 Venerato
 Vlacheronitissa site
 Vlychada beach beach
 Voilachurchsite
 Vori
 Vori / Voroichurch
 Voriziachurch
 Vosakou Monasterychurch
 Vouvas
 Vouvestree
 Vrahassi
 Vrises (west)
 Vrises (east)
 Vrondisichurch
 Vrouhaswindmill
 Voulisma Beachbeach
 Xamoudohori
 Xerokamposlovesitebeach
 Xirosterni
 Zakroswindmillchurch
 Zaroschurch
 Ziros
 Zou
 Zounaki
Book hotels in Crete   Villas Crete Holidays   car hire Crete   Aegean Airlines

Google Chrome thinks enlarging my pictures, some links and sometimes scrolling through the pages is a popup. If you want to navigate my website than please allow "popups".

Aegean Airlines
The Monastery of Gouvernetou on the island of Crete - Monastery of unfriendly monks
Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.
Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.

Nederlands map of Crete The Gouvernetou Monastery is located on the northeast side of the Akrotiri peninsula, near the town of Chania (19 km). It can be reached if you drive from Souda and follow the signs to the airport. Automatically the signs to the Agia Triada monastery and the Monastery of Gouvernetou will appear on the roadside. Miles before you reach the monastery you can already see the signs that taking photos inside the monastery is not allowed and even outside the monastery it is not allowed. Ridiculous of course. It is not a military site and the paint doesn't fall from the walls when you take a picture of the building. I can understand that you cannot make pictures with a flash light of wall paintings or sacred objects or anything like that, but how crazy can you make it? At the gates of the monastery there is another "no photography" sign. You have to walk over a path through the garden / forest to reach the monastery. Don't photograph a tree or anything, it is forbidden. Here you'll pass a nice church (on the right hand side) where I took out my camera for the first time. Also at the front of the monastery I made some pictures and believe me the building didn't fall apart! When we were visiting the monastery at another time because we wanted to walk to another nearby monastery, Katholiko, the doors were open and all the tourists were making pictures.

Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta
Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta

Most guides state that the monastery is opened between 9 am in the morning and 2 pm in the afternoon (and then again after 5 o'clock), but these monks, that apparently don't have much going on with visitors, decided to close it a little earlier, at 12 o'clock. The doors were not closed though, so we thought we would just take a look. Immediately a hysterical monk came running to us, shouting "closed! closed". Why don't you keep your doors locked when it is closed, that's what I thought. Well, next to the monastery in the back there is a small hill so I decided to climb up there to have a better look and to take some more pictures of the monastery. At the first click of the camera another fat monk started screaming hysterically "no pictures!", But I thought 'you can go and take a hike, I am not going to listen to you" and so I climbed a little higher for the next picture. If he would give me a hard time I would give him trouble. You don't want to get into an argument with me ;). What an idiots...

Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.
Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.

The Gouvernetou Monastery was built in the 16th century (1537) and on the outside it looks like a Venetian fortress because of the high, thick walls and towers around the monastery that were built to defend it against attackers. Of the original four towers only two survived. The monastery was badly damaged several times. During the Turkish occupation the records of the monastery were burned and many monks lost their life, and during the German occupation the Germans lived in the monastery. On the square behind the walls is a beautiful little monastery-church (first half 17th century - the interior is pretty but also a bit disappointing because the wall paintings are quite new) which is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, two churches (one of which is dedicated to the founder of the Agios Ioannis monastery, St. John the Hermit, and one dedicated to the martyrs of Agii Deka (= the 10 saints)) and there is a garden with various fruit trees. In front of the monastery-church there are Venetian style carved pillars with images of monsters. In the monastery there is a small museum with religious objects.

The Minoan "Cave of the Bear" and the Katholiko Monastery
Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta
Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta

At the back of the monastery at the monument is a path to a cave in the hills (the Cave of the Bear) and the monastery of Agios Ioannis (the one of St. John the Hermit), better known as the Monastery Katholiko. The cave is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, and here objects were found that indicated that the cave was once dedicated to the goddess Artemis (the goddess of hunting). The Cave of the Bear owes its name to a stalagmite (the big white) in which with much imagination you could recognize a bear. In this shape of the bear the goddess Artemis would appear. At the entrance of the cave is a small Chapel dedicated to Maria with an even smaller cave church next to it. In front of the cave are the remains of another old monastery and down below in the valley you can see another old building.

Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.
Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.

The Minoan cave is reached after about 15 minutes walking, the Katholiko monastery is another 30 minutes walk away. This monastery dates from the sixth or seventh century and is probably the oldest monastery in Crete. It is partly built into the rocks / cave. There is a bridge in front of the monastery which is 50 meters long and 15 meters wide. It runs over a 30 meter deep gorge (the Avlaki Gorge). The monastery is partly a ruin but it is beautiful. Unfortunately we were too lazy to walk there ourselves, but we had no idea (but in 2017 we did make this walk). Photos of the monastery on the internet are very interesting so if you're there it might be worth to walk the extra 30 minutes and have a look. With thanks to my friend Frankie Miles who send me a picture of the Katholiko Monastery (below).

Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete. Gouvernetou monastery, Akrotiri, Crete.
Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Gouvernetou Monastery, Crete, Gouvernetou klooster, Kreta Katholiko Monastery, Crete, Katholiko klooster, Kreta

© Hans Huisman, Frankie Miles, https://www.angelfire.com/super2/greece/ 2019
Valid HTML 4.01 Transitional